Container having a guard

ABSTRACT

A container  2  having a ring pull  12  with an opening  20 , the ring pull  12  being moveable over an outlet  6  of the container  2 , the opening  20  being sized to prevent the ingress of specific foreign objects into the outlet  6  whilst enabling the contents of the container  2  to be poured out.

[0001] This application claims priority of United Kingdom PatentApplication No. 0310387.6, filed May 6, 2003, which claims priority ofUnited Kingdom Patent Application No. 0226625.2, filed Nov. 14, 2002.

[0002] This invention relates to a container having a guard, andparticularly although not exclusively relates to a modified ring pullfor a beverage can which prevents the ingress of wasps into the can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Beverage cans with ring pulls are extremely widely usedthroughout the world. Certain insects are attracted to sweet beveragesand can get into unattended beverage cans, so that the insect can beswallowed when a person drinks from the can. This experience is alwaysextremely distressing, but if the insect stings, the incident can becomelife-threatening. The insect which is responsible for the largest numberof serious incidents in Europe is the European wasp (Vespula Germanica).

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a container having an insect guard comprising a ring pull withan opening, the insect guard being movable over an outlet of thecontainer, the opening being sized to prevent the ingress of insectsinto the outlet whilst enabling the contents of the container to bepoured out.

[0005] Preferably, the opening comprises a slot formed in the ring pull.Preferably the slot is arcuate.

[0006] Preferably, the slot is elongate and is longer than it is wide.Preferably, the width of the slot is no greater than 3.5 mm.

[0007] Preferably, the ring pull is moveable from a first position, inwhich the container can be opened to a second position over the saidoutlet.

[0008] Preferably, the opening comprises a recess which may be formed inan edge of the ring pull.

[0009] Preferably, the ring pull is adapted to engage in the outlet ofthe container or to engage the can adjacent the outlet.

[0010] Preferably, the ring pull is provided with a tang which engagesin the outlet when the ring pull has been moved over the outlet. Mostpreferably, the ring pull is provided with a pair of depending tangs,which tangs may engage opposite sides of the outlet.

[0011] Preferably, the tang or tangs are provided with a circumferentialrecess into which a rim of the outlet seats, when the ring pull is movedover the outlet. Preferably, the ring pull must be moved towards theoutlet in order to seat the rim of the outlet into the recess orrecesses. In this embodiment, the ring pull “snaps” into its lockedposition over the outlet.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a container having a ring pull which can be positioned over anoutlet of the container, to function as a guard to prevent the ingressof foreign objects into the container, whilst enabling the contents ofthe container to be poured out, the ring pull being adapted to engage inthe outlet of the container or to engage the can adjacent the outlet.

[0013] The said foreign objects may comprise insects, drug tablets, orother objects which present a health risk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0014] For a better understanding of the present invention and to showhow it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way ofexample, to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a top view of a closed beverage can;

[0016]FIG. 2 shows a beverage can in the process of being opened;

[0017]FIG. 3 shows a ring pull being rotated over a fluid outlet of thecan;

[0018]FIG. 4 shows a ring pull acting as an insect guard by covering thefluid outlet from the can;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of ringpull/guard, provided with depending tangs; and

[0020]FIG. 6 is a view on arrow A of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] For the avoidance of doubt, the term “ring pull” encompasses anytype, shape or size of ring pull and may include a ring pull having amain body and a cover which is separate from, but attached to, the mainbody.

[0022]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a container in the form of a beverage can 2having a top surface 4 in which is formed a fluid outlet 6. As is wellknown in the art, the fluid outlet 6 of the unopened can is closed by atab of material 8 which is integrally formed with the top surface 4 ofthe can, and which is defined by a line of weakening 10 which runsaround the periphery of the tab 8.

[0023] A ring pull 12 is rotatably connected to the top surface 4 bymeans of a rivet 14. The ring pull 12 comprises a base portion 16 whichis connected to the rivet 14 and a grip portion 18 which is gripped by auser when the can is opened. An elongate arcuate opening 20 is formedsubstantially across the full width of the grip portion 18 of the ringpull 12. Furthermore, a top edge 22 of the grip portion 18 is relieved,to form a recessed portion 24 of the ring pull 12.

[0024] The can 2 is opened with the ring pull 12 in the orientationillustrated in FIG. 1. The grip portion 18 is pulled upwardly by a user,so that the base portion 16 is pivoted down onto the tab 8, causing theline of weakening 10 to break and the tab to be pushed down into thedrinks can, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the ring pull 12 is then pushed back againstthe top surface 4 of the can 2 and is rotated through 180°, into theorientation illustrated in FIG. 4. In this orientation the grip portion18 covers the fluid outlet 6 in the top surface 4 of the can 2. Thewidth d1 of the arcuate opening 20, and the width d2 of the gap betweenthe recessed portion 24 of the ring pull 12 and the radially outer edgeof the fluid outlet 6 are set, so that insects can not enter the canwhen the can is left unattended. In a preferred embodiment, intended toprevent the ingress of European wasps, d1 and d2 are less than or equalto 3.5 mm.

[0026]FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of ring pull 12 inwhich a pair of tangs 26, 28 project downwardly from an underside of thering pull 12 on opposite sides of the grip portion 18. The outer surfaceof each tang 26, 28 is provided with an arcuate recess 30, 32 andbevelled leading edge 34, 36.

[0027] In use of the can 2, in the orientation illustrated in FIG. 4(with the ring pull 12 disposed directly over the outlet 6 from the can2), the bevelled leading edges 34, 36 of the tangs 26, 28 will beresting on the top surface 4 of the can adjacent the fluid outlet 6. Ifthe ring pull 12 is then pushed downwardly, a rim of the fluid outlet 6will ride up the bevelled leading edge 34, 36 until it springs into thearcuate recesses 30, 32. This process is facilitated by slight elasticdeflection of the top surface 4 of the can, and/or by slight elasticdeflection of the tangs 26,28.

[0028] Unfortunately, it is not unknown for a person to tamper with anunattended can. For example, a drug tablet may be introduced into thecan without the knowledge of the user of the can. This danger is greatlyreduced with the above described can, because the shape and size of theopening(s) in the ring pull prevent a tablet being introduced into theoutlet 6. Furthermore, once the rim of the fluid outlet 6 is located inthe arcuate recesses 30, 32, withdrawal of the tangs 26, 28 from theinterior of the can is impossible, unless the ring pull 12 is levered bya tool such as a screwdriver. This would cause damage to the ring pull,so if a third party forcibly removed the ring pull 12 from the fluidoutlet 6, this tampering would be evident to the user of the can.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the distance between the bottoms ofthe arcuate recesses 30, 32 is substantially identical to the width ofthe fluid outlet 6 in the region of the tangs 26, 28, whereas thedistance between the outer surfaces of the tangs 26, 28 at their widestpoint would be greater than the width of the fluid outlet 6 in theregion of the tangs 26, 28. The precise relationship between the abovementioned dimensions can of course be adjusted, for use in anyparticular application, dependent on the shape of the components, and onthe material from which the can, ring pull and tangs are made.

[0030] Although in the preferred embodiment, the ring pull 12 isprovided with an arcuate opening 20 of a particular shape, and the topedge 22 of the ring pull 12 is relieved to form a recessed portion 24,any combination of openings and/or recessed portions in the ring pull 12are contemplated, provided that the contents of the can can be drunkthrough the opening(s) and/or recess(es) whilst the ingress of specificforeign objects, such as insects, is prevented.

[0031] Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have beenshown and described, a wide range of modifications, changes andsubstitutions is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure. In someinstances, some features of the present invention may be employedwithout a corresponding use of the other features. Accordingly, it isappropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in amanner consistent with the scope of the invention.

1. A container having a ring pull with an opening, the ring pull beingmoveable over an outlet of the container, the opening being sized toprevent the ingress of specific foreign objects into the outlet whilstenabling the contents of the container to be poured out.
 2. A containeras claimed in claim 1, in which the opening comprises a slot formed inthe ring pull.
 3. A container as claimed in claim 2, in which the slotis arcuate.
 4. A container as claimed in claim 2, in which the slot iselongate and is longer than it is wide, the width of the slot being lessthan or equal to 3.5 mm.
 5. A container as claimed in claim 1, in whichthe ring pull is moveable from a first position in which the containercan be opened to a second position over the said outlet.
 6. A containeras claimed in claim 1, in which the opening comprises a recess in anedge of the ring pull.
 7. A container as claimed in claim 1, in whichthe said foreign objects comprise insects.
 8. A container as claimed inclaim 1, in which means are provided to fix the ring pull permanentlyover the outlet of the container.
 9. A container as claimed in claim 8,in which the ring pull is provided with a tang which engages in theoutlet when the ring pull is over the outlet.
 10. A container as claimedin claim 9, in which the ring pull is provided with a pair of dependingtangs which engage opposite sides of the outlet.
 11. A container havinga ring pull which can be positioned permanently over an outlet of thecontainer to function as a guard to prevent the ingress of foreignobjects into the container, whilst enabling the contents of thecontainer to be poured out.